The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
- KJV But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
- BSB But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
- NKJV But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
- NASB But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The humble will inherit the land and delight in abundant peace. Meekness, not aggression, secures lasting blessing.
Overview
Over against the doomed wicked, the humble (the meek who trust God) receive the inheritance and enjoy rich peace (shalom). Worldly assertiveness gains nothing lasting; humble dependence on God gains everything. Jesus quotes this verse almost word for word in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:5), making it a charter promise for His humble followers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 5:5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Gal 5:22–23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
- Isa 26:3You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
- Jas 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
- Ps 119:165Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.
- Phil 4:7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
- Isa 48:18Oh that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
- 1 Tim 6:11But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
- Ps 36:8They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.
- John 14:27Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
- Jas 1:21Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
- Isa 57:18–21I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
- Ps 72:7In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 37:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.